Committees on Occupational Safety

Central Government has constituted three expert committees to review the existing rules and regulations on safety, health and working conditions standards, pertaining to factories, docks and construction work.

Important points:

• One committee will look into the safety parameters of industries, docks and ports while the other two committees have been asked to study and suggest rules for the building and other construction works and the fire safety.
• The committees include experts from industry as well as subject matter, from both public and private sector across the country.
• A separate committee on fire safety standards has been formed to have a comprehensive and holistic approach for fire safety provisions, in view of recent spurt in fire accidents at workplaces.
• This process will pave the way for establishing uniform and updated standards of safety and health of workers throughout the country.

Important  Provisions:

• Replaces 13 labour laws relating to safety, health and working conditions, including the Factories Act, 1948, the Mines Act, 1952, and the Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act, 1970.
• Establishments employing at least 10 workers,
• All mines and docks,
• Provides special provisions for certain types of establishments and classes of employees, such as factories and building and construction workers.
• A National Occupational Safety and Health Advisory Board in place of multiple committees at present.
• The Board will have tripartite representation from trade unions, employer associations and state governments.
• The Board will advise the government on the standards, rules and regulations on workers’ safety, besides overseeing the implementation of the Code.
• One registration, one licence and one tax return instead of multiple registrations, licenses and returns as required in the existing 13 labour laws.
• Formalisation of Employment: The Code provides for a statutory provision to issue appointment letter to every employee of the establishment.
• The employer is required to provide a hygienic work environment with ventilation, comfortable temperature and humidity, sufficient space, clean drinking water, and latrine and urinal accommodations.
• The Code provides for uniform threshold for welfare provisions for all establishments. Welfare Provisions include crèche, canteen, first aid, welfare officer etc.
• Duties of Employees include taking care of their own health and safety, complying with the specified safety and health standards, and reporting unsafe situations to the relevant authority.
• Working Hours For Women: Women, after their consent, will be permitted to work beyond 7 pm and before 6 am subject to the safety, holidays, working hours or any other condition as prescribed by the state or the central government.

Penalty

• An offence that leads to the death of an employee will be punishable with imprisonment of up to two years, or a fine up to five lakh rupees, or both.
• The courts may direct that at least 50% of such fine be given as compensation to the heirs of the victim.
• If an employee violates provisions of the Code, s/he will be subject to a fine of up to Rs 10,000.

SOURCE: THE ECONOMIC TIMES,MINT